Creative and Media

Pay

Art, design and craft industries

Fine artists have varying rates of earnings because the job is freelance. The free online Artist's Fees Toolkitprovides a calculator for artists to work out their costs and what to charge for their time. Only a few well-established artists earn enough to make a living from sales of their art alone. Most increase their earnings from a range of art-related jobs.

Goldsmiths/silversmiths may earn up to £10,000 a year as a new entrant, or apprentice, up to £15,000 for graduates. Highly experienced designers can earn £25,000, potentially reaching up to £50,000 a year. Earnings for freelance goldsmith/silversmith craft workers vary considerably, depending on sales.

Graphic designers may start at around £19,000 a year, and with experience earn up to around £25,000.Senior designers in a creative director role may earn up to £70,000.

Technical illustrators, when fully qualified, may earn from £20,000 up to £25,000 a year. Experienced and specialist illustrators working in the scientific and medical fields can earn up to £40,000 a year. Self-employed illustrators charge a fee for each illustration or project.

Product designers may start at between £18,000 and £25,000 a year. Experienced product designers may earn £25,000 to £40,000 a year. Senior product designers and account directors with around ten years' experience can earn up to £55,000 a year. Freelance designers charge a daily rate or a price for the whole project.

Cultural heritage

Archaeologists may earn from around £13,500 to £23,000. A senior archaeologist may earn up to £30,000.

Art exhibition organisers may earn around £12,000 a year. With experience, earnings may rise to around £20,000. Senior art exhibition organisers may earn around £35,000, and exhibition heads at national galleries may earn around £60,000 or more.

Conservators/restorers may earn about £21,000 a year and with professional accreditation (PACR) or considerable experience may earn up to £27,000 a year. Senior conservators/restorers may earn £36,000 or more.

Museum assistants/technicians may earn from £14,500 to £16,000 a year. Experienced museum assistants (usually with a relevant degree or postgraduate qualification) are likely to earn between £19,500 and £23,500 a year. Those with considerable experience may earn up to £31,000 a year.

Museum visitor services assistants may earn from £14,500 to £16,000 a year and up to £19,000 with experience.

Museum/art gallery curators may earn from £16,000 to £19,000 a year and up to £23,500 with experience. With specific expertise, curators may earn up to £31,000, potentially reaching £36,000 for a senior curator.

Media, interactive media, print and publishing

Animators may earn from around £20,000 a year up to £30,000 with experience. Highly skilled animators may earn £40,000 or more a year.

Computer games designers mayearn around £19,000 a year. With experience, this could rise to between £25,000 and £35,000. A lead designer may earn between £35,000 and £55,000.

Interactive media designers may earn between £15,500 and £22,000 a year. The average salary for experienced interactive media designers is around £31,800. Highly experienced interactive media designers may earn more than £45,000.

Photographic technicians may earn from around £12,000 a year. With more experience, salaries may rise to between £15,000 and £25,000. Skilled, experienced technicians may earn up to £35,000 a year.

Publishing editors working aslocal newspaper editors and book editors may start on between £16,000 and £30,000 a year. Section editors on a national magazine or newspaper may earn up to £40,000. Experienced editors on national newspapers/magazines may earn over £100,000 a year.

Sound technicians may earn around £18,000 a year. With experience, this may rise to £30,000 or more a year.

TV/Film production assistants may earn around £15,250 a year. With experience, a production assistant's salary may rise to around £22,500. Senior production assistants may earn over £30,000.

Performing arts, including the music industry

The actors' union Equity negotiates minimum recommended rates. The Equity website has details (see www.equity.org.uk). Payments for TV and film actors depend on the importance of the part and the reputation and experience of the actor. Only a small percentage of actors earn more than £30,000 per year from acting alone.

Entertainers in regular work may earn around £10,000 a year and, with experience, up to £20,000 a year. Well-established entertainers may earn over £30,000 a year. Most entertainers are self-employed and are paid fees per contract or performance.

Lighting technicians may start on about £9,500 a year up to £15,000 a year, and with experience could eventually rise to £24,000 a year.

Make-up artists may earn up to £15,000 a year and, with experience, £25,000 a year. A chief make-up artist may earn around £45,000 a year. However, most make-up artists work freelance and negotiate a fee per contract or project.

Music promotions managers may earn around £16,000 a year. Established promotions managers may earn from £20,000 to £40,000 a year. Top promotion managers may earn up to £100,000.

Popular musicians have minimum pay rates set by the Musicians' Union (MU) and Equity (the performers' union). These are only applicable when working for an organisation that has agreed to pay these rates (see www.equity.org.uk and www.musiciansunion.org.uk for current rates).

Stage managers may start on a salary of between £14,500 and £17,000 a year. Experienced and senior stage managers, especially on large productions, can earn £40,000 a year, or more. Many stage managers are freelance and are paid for each production or performance run.